Honeywell Says its Integrated PFD Might Include Expanded Capabilities

Honeywell said at this year's European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE) that future versions of its IPFD (integrated primary flight display) could include expanded functionality such as 3D airport maps.

New IPFD functionalities are being tested in simulators and on Honeywell aircraft from which Honeywell engineers are gathering feedback from flight crews.

Honeywell's IPFD integrates existing flightdeck information with HUD (head-up display) symbology, to give pilots a three-dimensional view of the outside world.  The system's synthetic images are generated from Honeywell's EGPWS (enhanced ground proximity warning system) terrain database and what Honeywell describes as "advanced high-performance" graphics generators.

Bob Smith, Honeywell's vice president for advanced technology, said, "We are exploring a future functionality expansion for IPFD, and when these features are fully defined, we believe it will further increase pilot situational awareness during airport operations." But added, "Only when we are satisfied with the technology readiness level and our customers tell us we've got it right, will we bring it to market."

Honeywell is already developing the technology needed to expand its synthetic vision portfolio for potential rotor wing applications.  Development of a prototype helicopter IPFD is well underway, Honeywell says, and is accumulating test hours - more than 700 hours in flight simulators and 400 hours in flight - to further its design and development, which followed rapid prototyping in Honeywell's lab simulators.

The company continues to say that it's on track to initially certify IPFD technology by the end of 2007.  It expects that the first synthetic vision product will be the Gulfstream SV-PFD and anticipates that it will be available as an option on all Gulfstream PlaneView-equipped aircraft.  05-28-2007.

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